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March 31, 1964 E. HAJOS 3,126,657

Fowmc. AND s'rAcKINc MACHINE FOR ARTICLES 0F LINEN Filed May 12, 1953 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 I S a OE w V m V 5 mm m F @u QON w m A W w la V H 0 a b: W. Z mvw N N hN a Q kw M w\ March 31, 1964 HAJOS 3,126,657

FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINE FOR ARTICLES OF LINEN Filed May '12, 1953 I 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 o 1% o 75 I I 95 77 IN V EN TOR. A 59 EUGENE 19/4/03 9 as BY ATT IQIVEXS' E. HAJOS March 31, 1964 FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINE FOR ARTICLES 0F LINEN 14 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 12, 1953 IN VEN TOR.

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E. HAJOS .March 31, 1964 FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINE FOR ARTICLES OF LINEN l4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May-12, 1955 E. HAJOS FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINE FOR ARTICLES OF LINEN Filed May 12, 1953 14 Sheets-Sheet 5' ATT'MNEYS INVENTOR.

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fuss/v: IMJOS BY Q 2% ATTORNYS 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 E. HAJQS FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINE FOR ARTICLES 0F LINEN Filed May 12, 1953 March 31, 1964 E. HAJOS March 31, 1964 FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINE FOR ARTICLES OF LINEN Filed'May 12, 1953 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 n M w mm T m A E o n 1 I. i w 6 0 Y ohm. 3m 3w Fa 4m bww E B 5 I 3 w 3 A I m A Ill Q 7% K 5B f m F: A \rii .l l E A w w m3 uni March 31, 1964 I HAJQs 3,126,657

FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINE FOR ARTICLES 0F LINEN Filed May 12, 1953 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 FIG. l9.

IN VEN TOR.

E U65 NE HA JO 5 BY W W A 176 Mm E. HAJOS March 31, 1964 FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINE FOR ARTICLES 'OF LINEN 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed May 12, 1953 FIG. 20.

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EUGENE HA/OS M Ma- ATTORNEY;

March 31, 1964 HAJQS 3,126,657

FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINE FOR ARTICLES OF LINEN Filed May 12, 1953 14 Sheets-Sheet H INVENTOR. EUGENE 194/ 8 MQ w A-rrae/vew March 31, 1964 E. HAJOS 3,126,657

FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINE FOR ARTICLES 0F LINEN Filed May 12, 1953 14 Sheets-Sheet 12 INVEN TOR.

EUG'NE HAL/OS BY MQLWWW ATTOR Ms) s 14 Sheets-Sheet 13 March- 31, 1964 E. HAJOS FOLDING AiID STACKING' MACHINE FOR ARTICLES 0F LINEN Filed may 12, 1953 INVENTOR. EUGENE IVA/ J ATTORNEYS March 31, 1964 E. HAJOS 3,126,657

FOLDING AND STACK-ING' MACHINE FOR ARTICLES OF LINEN Filed May 12, 1953 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 *4 I {as k I 490 442/ 170 J.

IN V EN TOR.

UGE/v/E' HAJOS 3,126,657 FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINE FoR ARTICLES F LINEN -'Eugene Hajos, Fort Lee, N.J., assignor to Premier Laundry, Inc., New York, N .Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 12, 1953, Ser. No. 354,510 22 Claims. (Cl. 382) This invention relates to an improved machine for folding and stacking articles of linen automatically in discrete counted bundles.

An importantobject of this invention is to provide a machine which will receive ironed articles of linen successively and which will automatically fold these articles along their length into thirds, iron the partly folded articles, complete the folding of the articles by folding them centrally across their length, stack the completely folded articles and eject the articles in stacks containing preselected numbers of articles, ready for wrapping.

The commercial laundry industry has devoted a great deal of effort to the development of new methods and machines for performing the operations involved in the assembly-line laundering of so-called flat articles of linen and the like, such as towels, pillow cases and sheets. Some of these operations include washing the articles, drying the articles, ironing the articles, folding the articles, making stacks containing selected numbers of the articles and Wrapping the stacks for delivery.

It is well known that the operation of ironing articles of linen has been solved by the development and use on a wide scale of automatic ironing machines. These machines, which are capable of high capacity and efficiency, are accordingly large, complex and costly. However, each ironing machine requires the use of a number of human operators who take the ironed articles and manually feed them to one or more small machines for folding the articles. The articles are stacked from below, and the counting of the stacked articles must be done manually.

The provision of high-speed machines in accordance with the present invention almost entirely eliminates the need for human operators for folding and stacking the articles, and results in more economical laundry operation.

One important feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved longitudinal folder having a flexible and resilient main plate fixed to the machine frame at its input end and otherwise supported indirectly by magnets, so as to provide uniform driving traction for articles of linen carried on the lower face of the conveyor belt, and having folding plates located below the main plate.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a change-of-direction roller permitting an abrupt change in the direction of movement of the partly folded articles without wrinkling and thereby permitting compact construction of the machine as a whole.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved timing mechanism for insuring accurate central folding across their length of articles of varying length. The timing mechanism in accordance with this invention has two separate timers for timing the movement of two towels at a time, as a result of which it is possible for articles to follow each other closely upon the conveyor.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved device for stacking the completely folded articles and in an elevator for receiving the stacks. During stacking, the elevator is always positioned so as to maintain the stack just below the stacking 3,126,657. Patented- Mar. 31, 1964 device. The elevator is lowered in a series of short drops as the stack grows. When a selected number of articles are stacked, as determined by an automatic counter, the elevator abruptly drops to its lowest position, and a pusher is actuated to eject the stack from the elevator.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which a preferred embodiment is disclosed.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a folding and stacking machine according to my invention, the front of the machine being to the left in this view and the frame and input conveyor being partly broken away.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the input conveyor of the machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the input conveyor of FIG. 2, taken on the line 3-3 of that view, showing it attached to the delivery end of an ironing machine.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the upper end of the conveyor associated with the front of the main frame of the machine, taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the longitudinal folder of the machine of FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 5a is a detail view in elevation showing the manner in which the folding plates are carried by the frame of the machine in an adjustable manner.

FIG. 5b is a corresponding view in section, taken at right angles to FIG. 5a, illustrating the mounting of the lower folding plate and taken on the line Sb-b of FIG. 5a.

FIG. 6 is a view in longitudinal section through the middle of the longitudinal folder of FIG. 5, taken on the line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a View in vertical cross section through the folder of FIG. 5, taken on the line 77 of that figure, showing the upper folding plate making the first longitudinal fold.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 on the line 8 8 of FIG. 5, showing the lower folding plate beginning the second longitudinal fold.

FIG. 9 is a similar view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 5, showing the second longitudinal fold completed.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the front part of the machine, taken on an elevation just below the folding plates on the line 1il10 of FIG. 1, showing some of the drive mechanism and part of the main conveyor belt mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a vertical longitudinal section through the transverse folding mechanism of the machine, taken on the line 1111 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal elevation from the rear of the machine as viewed in FIG. 1, showing part of the stacking mechanism for the folded towels located above the elevator.

FIG. 13 is a view transversely across the machine, taken on the line 1313 of FIG. 12 and showing the mechanism of that figure, the angle irons of the stacking mechanism being shown in their normal or up position.

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal section through the middle of the machine from rear to front, reading from left to right, taken on the line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a vertical view, partly in section, taken across the stacking mechanism of FIG. 14 on the line 1515 of that figure, showing the angle irons in their stacking positions.

FIG. 16 is a view in side elevation from the right side of the machine, showing the elevator in an up or stackmg position.

FIG. 17 is a view in vertical section through the elevator of FIG. 16, taken on the line 17-17 of that figure.

FIG. 18 is a diagram of a portion of the compressed air distribution system of the machine.

FIG. 19 is a plan view of the timing mechanism C for the transverse folder, certain parts being removed for clarity.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view in elevation of the timing mechanism of FIG. 19, viewed from the right of that figure on the line 2020.

FIG. 21 is a view in elevation from the right of FIG. 19, showing the timer cams for the transverse folder switch and other switches.

FIG. 22 is a diagrammatic plan view of the complete timing mechanism of the machine.

FIGS. 23a, 23b and 230 are a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit of the machine.

FIG. 23a shows the circuit for the transverse folder and also shows the circuit for miscellaneous control devices.

FIG. 2312 shows the circuit of the counter for determining the number of articles stacked.

FIG. 23c shows the circuits of the stacking mechanism, the elevator and the pusher for removing stacked towels from the machine.

FIG. 24 is a transverse section of the stacking mechanism, showing a modification thereof.

FIG. 25 is a fragmentary section on the line 2525 of FIG. 24.

Upon reference to the drawings in detail, it will be noted that the machine is generally shown in its entirety in FIG. 1. In this and other views, articles of linen or the like are designated by the reference letter T. In general, except as specifically indicated below, the drawings are substantially to scale of a working model of the machine, and reference is made to the drawings to complete the disclosure. For convenience, the articles of linen T Will be referred to as towels, although it will be apparent that other articles of linen may be folded in this machine. I will first describe the manipulation of the towels generally.

FIG. 1 shows a portion of an input conveyor A supported by machine frame 1 at the front or input end of the machine. Said input conveyor A is shown in detail in FIGS. 2-4. Towel T enters the machine at the upper part thereof, where it travels along the bottom face of main conveyor belt 10 through longitudinal folder B. Said longitudinal folder B is shown in detail in FIGS. 59. Longitudinal folder B folds towels T longitudinally into overlapping thirds.

At the rear of the machine, change-of-direction roller 11 is mounted on frame 1 with its axis extending laterally. Conveyor belt passes over, in front of and below change-of-direction roller 11 and is spaced therefrom. Change-of-direction roller 11 is positioned to intercept towel T as it leaves longitudinal folder B and is adapted to reverse the direction of movement of towel T. Conveyor belt 10 again receives towel T as it leaves changeof-direction roller 11 and is adapted to carry towel T forwardly upon its upper face on a level below that of longitudinal folder B in the direction of the front of the machine.

In its forward movement the towel T passes operatively between belt 10 and an ironer 12 which is supported by frame 1 in normal operative engagement with belt 10. A spring-controlled arm or rod 13 located just forward of the ironer 12 is adapted to move belt 10 out of operative engagement with ironer 12 when belt 10 stops moving, a solenoid IS holding rod 13 clear of belt 10 while the latter is moving.

Forwardly of ironer 12 and after passing rod 13, towel T operatively engages a timer switch lever 14, which controls the operation of timer mechanism C, said timer mechanism being shown in detail in FIGS. 19-22 and being mounted at the bottom front of frame 1.

Forwardly of timer switch 14, conveyor belt 19 passes over, in front and under idler roller 15 and then travels rearwardly. As towel T passes over roller 15, it is folded across its width and pushed rearwardly by transverse folder lever 16 of transverse folder mechanism D. Timer mechanism C controls the operation of folder lever 16 so that it folds towel T centrally across its length. This transverse folder mechanism is shown in detail in FIGS. 10 and 11.

The now completely folded towel T is carried rearwardly against the bottom face of main conveyor belt 10 until it enters stacking mechanism E. Conveyor belt 10, which is continuous, then follows a return path, in which it is idle, to the point where it receives towels T from input conveyor A. Stacking mechanism E is suitably actuated, when towel T is fully received therein, to drop towel T upon stack 17. Stacking mechanism E is shown in detail in FIGS. 12-15.

The towel stack 17 is supported by an elevator F which extends above the bottom of frame 1 and which gradually drops downwardly as it receives towels T. When stack 17 contains a pre-determined number of towels, means are provided for rapidly dropping elevator F to its lowest position, shown in FIG. 1, and for driving a pusher 18 reaiwardly to force stack 17 off elevator F and on to an outlet platform 19 mounted on the rear of frame 1. Elevator F is shown in detail in FIGS. 16 and 17.

Main Conveyor Belt The disposition of main conveyor belt 10 and the drive means therefor are clearly shown in FIGS. 1, 10 and 11. The direction of movement of belt 10 is shown by arrow 2 (FIG. 1).

Lateral idler roller 21 which is mounted upon frame 1 at the top front thereof, will be taken for convenience as the starting and return point of the continuous belt 10. A further lateral idler roller 21 is mounted upon frame 1 near the top rear thereof. There is a lateral idler roller 22 fixed on a laterally extending horizontal shaft 461 rotatably mounted upon frame 1 behind and on a level with roller 21. Lateral idler roller 23 is mounted upon frame 1 somewhat below roller 22. Belt 10 passes in front of and under roller 20, under roller 21, over and behind roller 22 and behind and under roller 23.

There is a lateral idler roller 24 mounted upon frame 1 at about the longitudinal center thereof and on about the level of roller 23. Lateral idler roller 15 is mounted upon frame 1 near the front thereof and below roller 24. Belt 10 passes over roller 24 and over, in front of and under roller 15.

A pair of approximately horizontal arms 25 are mounted at their rear ends upon frame 1 generally below and laterally of roller 15 by means of lateral pivots 26 (see FIG. 11). Lateral shaft 27 connects arms 25 intermediate their ends. Roller 28 is mounted upon shaft 27 directly below roller 15. Lateral rod 29 connects the front ends of arms 25. Rods 30 extend upwardly from rod 29 through suitable openings (not shown) in frame 1. Spring 31 on each rod 30 bears between frame 1 and stop nut 32 on the upper end of rod 30, so that the front ends of arms 25 are urged upwardly. As a result, roller 28 is held under tension against the part of belt 10 passing under roller 15.

Lateral shaft 33 is turnably mounted upon frame 1 nearer the rear of the machine and on an approximate level with roller 15. Sprocket gear 34 is fixed to an end of shaft 33, and roller 35 is fixedly mounted upon shaft 33. Lateral roller 36 is mounted upon frame 1 forwardly of and slightly above the level of roller 35.

A pair of arms 37 are mounted upon frame 1 by means of lateral pivots 38 and extend upward and forwardly therefrom (see FIGS. 1 and 11). Lateral idler roller 39 is connected between the upper ends of arms 37, and is located below the level of roller 24. Springs 40 are connected between an intermediate point of each arm 37 and '5 a respective point on frame located forwardly of arm 37, and the springs urge roller 39 forwardly.

Belt extends under, behind and over roller 35, under roller 36 and in front of and over roller 39. Vertically spaced lateral idler rollers 41 and 42 are mounted upon frame 1 rearwardly of rollers 23 and 22. Belt 10 extends rearwardly from roller 39, under and behind roller 41, behind and over roller 42 and back over the starting roller 20.

As will become fully apparent below, towel T operatively engages belt 10 from starting roller until belt 10 travels under roller 35, with the exception that towel T is out of engagement with belt 10 after it passes under roller 21 and while it passes over rollers 22 and 23. During the return path of belt 10, from roller back to roller 20, itis out of engagement with towel T. Belt 10 is maintained under tension by the action of spring upon roller 39.

Electric motor 43 located near the bottom of the frame 1 of the machine serves as the drive means for main conveyor belt 10. Motor 43 has a longitudinally rearwardly extending driven shaft 44 which drives a lateral driven shaft 45 mounted in reduction gear box 46. Sprocket gear 47 is mounted upon shaft 45. Endless drive chain 48 meshes with sprockets 47 and 34 and also meshes with a sprocket gear 49 fixed to a lateral shaft 50 mounted upon frame 1 rearwardly of sprocket 34. Chain 48 drives sprocket 34, together with shaft 33 and drive roller 35, as well as sprocket 49. Roller 35 drives belt 10.

Input Conveyor Input conveyor A is shown in detail in FIGS. 2-4. The drive means for input conveyor A is clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 10.

Input conveyor A is supported by a pair of laterally spaced brackets 3 mounted upon the front of frame 1. Shaft 51 extends turnably between said brackets 3. A pair of input conveyor frame arms 52 are respectively turnably mounted on shaft 51 adjacent the respective brackets 3 and extend forwardly and downwardly therefrom. A pair of rollers 53 are fixed to shaft 51 intermediate arms 52. Rollers 53 are laterally spaced from each other.

Sprocket wheel 54, which is the drive sprocket for conveyor A, is fixed to shaft 51 between rollers 53.

There is a sprocket wheel 55 fixed to the opposite end of shaft 33 from sprocket 34 (see FIGS. 10 and 11). A lateral shaft 56 is turnably mounted at its ends upon blocks 144 which are respectively fixed to frames 1 near the front thereof and below sprocket 54. Sprocket wheel 57 is mounted on an end of shaft 56 in line'with sprocket 55. Shaft 58 is turnably mounted upon frame 1 in front of shaft 56 and carries sprocket 59. Endless drive chain 60 extends meshingly behind and under sprocket 55, over sprocket 57, under, in front of and over sprocket 59, and over sprocket 55 and hence back to its starting oint.

P Sprocket wheel 61 is fixed to the central portion of shaft 56. Endless chain 62 meshes with sprocket 61 and sprocket 54 in the usual manner to drive the input conveyor.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that motor 43 drives shaft 51 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3.

The front ends of arms 52 are connected to a cross-iron 63 which extends laterally outwardly beyond both arms 52. Frame arms 64 are connected to the respective ends of iron 63 and extend both forwardly and rearwardly thereof in substantially the same direction as arms 52.

One end of air cylinder 65 is connected to frame 1 by lateral pivot 66. Cylinder 65 extends upwardly and forwardly from pivot 66. Plunger 67 extends out of the upper end of cylinder 65 and is pivotally connected to lateral shaft 68, which extends between arms 64 forwardly of iron 63.

As will be further described below, compressed air is supplied to the interior of cylinder 65 to urge plunger 67 and hence the front end of conveyor A upwardly.

Arms 64 have upwardly extending ears at the higher end thereof, between which lateral shaft 69 extends. Four rollers 70 are mounted upon shaft 69. Arms 64 also have downwardly extending ears at the higher end thereof, between which lateral shaft 71 extends. A pair of rollers 72 are mounted upon shaft 71 adjacent the respective arms 64.

Lateral shaft 73 extends turnably between the front ends of arms 64 and also extends outwardly from them. Four rollers 74 are fixed to shaft 73 between arms 64 to work with the rollers 70 at the upper ends of the arms 64 as hereinafter described.

Arms 64 have depending portions near their lower ends, between which shaft 75 extends. Four individual bell crank levers 76 are turnably mounted at intermediate points thereof upon shaft 75. One end of each lever 76 extends forwardly of shaft 75 and has a lateral roller 77 turnably mounted thereon. The other end of each lever 76 is connected by spring 78 to a lateral rod 97 extending between arms 64, so as to urge roller 77 downwardly.

A pair of center belts 79 are provided. Each belt 79 extends around a roller 53 and a center roller 74 and also extends over a center roller 70 and under a springpressed roller 77. Belts 79 are driven by chain 62 and in turn drive rollers 74.

A pair of side belts 80 are provided. Each belt 80 extends around a side roller 70, a roller 72, a springpressed roller 77 and a side roller 74. Belts 80 are driven by rollers 74 through the belts 79 and shaft 73.

Belts 79 and 80 move in the direction of arrow 81 (FIG. 3). Each of these belts is individually tensioned by its associated roller 77. Conveyor A is wider than frame 1, except at its upper portion, Where belts 79 extend above belts 80.

A pair of arms 82 are positioned outside the respective arms 64 and are connected to the lower part of these arms by lateral pivots 83. Said arms 82 extend forwardly of pivots 83. A relatively heavy idler roller 84 is connected between arms 82 and rests against the front faces of belts 79 and 80 above rollers 74.

Input conveyor A is adapted to be placed in position relative to a conveyor belt 85 (FIG. 3) to receive towels T carried by said belt 85. As an example, belt 85 may be the output conveyor belt of an ironer. Belt 85 is shown as moving in the direction of arrow 88 around a roller '86 mounted upon a lateral shaft 87. Said shaft 87 is fixed to the ironer frame (not shown). In order to position conveyor A properly relative to ironer belt 85, conveyor A is provided with a pair of arms 89 turnably mounted on the respective ends of shaft 73 outside arms 64. Each arm 89 extends forwardly and downwardly of shaft 73. The rear end portion of arm 89 has an arcuate slot 90 through which screw 91 extends. Screw 91 extends into a suitably threaded hole (not shown) in arm 64 and may be tightened to lock arm 89 in a selected turned position on shaft 7 3.

The front ends of arms 89 are joined by a lateral shaft 92 upon which idler roller 93 is mounted. Shaft 92 also extends outwardly of arms 89 and has pulleys 94 mounted on its outer ends. Pulleys 95 are mounted on the respective outer ends of shaft 73. Idler pulley belts 96 extend around the respective pairs of pulleys 94 and 95.

In the use of the machine, frame 1 is rolled upon casters 9 until idler belts 96 abut ironer conveyor belt 85 under roller 86, as clearly shown in FIG. 3. The air pressure in cylinder 65 upon plunger 67 holds conveyor A in position against belt 85. The length of belts 96 permits placing conveyor A in position against roller 86 located at varying heights above the floor. Preferably, roller 93 also abuts belt 85; but the provision of belts 96 extends the range of contact when it is impractical for roller 93 to abut belt 85.

When conveyor A is thus positioned relative to belt 85 and roller 86, the leading end of a towel T carried on the upper face of belt 85 strikes the front faces of belts '79 7 and 80 and is carried thereby under roller 84 before the trailing end of towel T leaves belt 85. Preferably, towel T does not exceed in width the distance between the re spective outer side edges of belts 80.

As towel T moves past the belts 80, the side portions of towel T drop down outside the respective side arms 52-.

Longitudinal Folder Longitudinal folder B is shown in detail in FIGS. 9. Because the plates thereof are very thin, being approximately one eighth of an inch thick, the thickness and spacing of the plates has been exaggerated in these views.

Longitudinal folder B includes a ferromagnetic main plate 100 which is positioned just below main conveyor belt and which extends from a point just behind roller to a point just in front of the point at which belt 10 passes between rollers 11 and 21. Near its front end, main plate 100 is supported from below by a laterally extending frame portion 8. The remainder of plate 100 is supported in a manner to be described below. The front end of plate 100 is positioned just behind the rear ends of belts 79.

Plate 100 has a central front-end extension 101 which passes over sprocket 54 and: is curved downwardly in front of sprocket 54 (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 4). Plate extension 101 is located between belts 79. Plate extension 101 prevents towels T from striking sprocket 54. Also, plate extension 101 carries a switch AE whose switch lever 102 extends upwardly between belts 79 in a position to be depressed by a towel T carried by belts 79, whereby to close switch AE. As will become fully apparent below, the closing of switch AE by a towel actuates a timer which stops the operation of the machine if the towel does not emerge from the stacker within a specified time interval.

Upon leaving input conveyor belts 79, towel T travels between the lower face of main conveyor belt 10 and the upper face of main folder plate 100, as clearly shown in FIG. 3. Preferably, the front end portion of plate 100 is of approximately the same width as the rear part of conveyor A, plate 100 being of somewhat reduced width rearwardly thereof (FIG. 5). A plurality of longitudinally spaced weights 103 rest upon the upper face of belt 10 rearwardly of roller 20, so that belt 10 frictionally engages towel T. Each weight 103 has a slot 104 extending downwardly from its upper face and extending the width thereof. A lateral rod 105 is fixedly supported by frame 1 and rides in said slot 104. Said weights 103 are located forwardly and rearwardly of frame portion 8.

Rearwardly of weights 103, and below the uppermost return portion of belt 10, frame 1 has a longitudinally extending frame portion 7 (see FIGS. 6 to 9). A plurality of studs 106 depend from frame portion 7 and support a longitudinally extending, non-magnetic plate 107 spaced from said frame portion 7. Preferably, studs 106 are laterally disposed beyond the respective side edges of main plate 100, and are evenly spaced on both sides of plate 107 along the entire length thereof. Plate 107 extends almost as far rearwardly as main plate 100 (see FIG. 1).

A plurality of spaced magnets 108 are supported between frame portion 7 and the upper face of plate 107. Preferably, magnets 108 are disposed in two longitudinally extending rows located inwardly of the respective side edges of plate 107 (see FIG. 5).

Each magnet 108 is horseshoe-shaped, with its pole pieces extending downwardly from its cross-piece and longitudinally alined, and with its cross-piece fixed to frame portion 7 by bolt 450, or optionally by a strap.

Plate 100 is preferably only one-sixteenth of an inch thick and is flexible and resilient. Magnets 108 support that portion of plate 100 (most of the length thereof) which is not supported by frame portion 8 and hold plate evenly in frictional abutment with the lower face of belt 10, so as to hold belt 10 in operative engagement with towel T.

Upper and lower non-magnetic, longitudinally extending folding plates 109 and 110 are provided. The front of upper folding plate 109 is preferably located forward of the front of plate 107. The left side of plate 109, as viewed in FIGS. 7-9, extends laterally outwardly of main plate 100 and is supported by angle iron 451. The right side of plate 110, as view in FIGS. 79, is similarly supported by another angle iron 451. Both angle irons are similarly mounted on the frame, that for plate 110 being shown in detail in FIGS. 5a and 5b.

Angle iron 451 extends longitudinally and has a horizontal arm fixed to plate 110 and a vertical arm 452 adjustably supported by frame 1. In order to support arm 452, a plurality of vertical channel irons are fixed to frame 1. Each said channel iron has a longitudinal crossarm 453 and laterally inwardly extending end arms 454. Said channel iron is located outwardly of angle iron 451. Block 455 is positioned between arms 454 and is vertically adjustably secured to each arm 454 by means of respective screws 456 which extend through respective vertically elongated slots 457 in arm 454 and into respective thread holes (not shown) in the side of block 455.

Angle iron arm 452 is attached to each block 455 by means of a respective screw 458 which extends through arm 452 and into a threaded hole in block 455, the head of screw 458 abutting the inner wall of arm 452. Additional screws 459 extend through slot 460, in channel iron arm 453 and through respective threaded holes in block 455. Screws 459 are respectively located above and below screw 453, and the inner ends of screws 459 abut iron arm 452. It will be apparent that by adjustment of screws 459, plate 110 may be rocked to a selected inclination relative to the horizontal. The vertical position of plate 110 may be adjusted by means of screw 456.

The front portion 111 of the right edge of plate 109, as taken in FIGS. 7-9, meets the left edge thereof at the extreme front of plate 109 and diverges rearwardly therefrom. The rear portion 112 of the right edge of plate 109 is parallel to and preferably located in vertical alinement with the right edge of main plate 100.

The front of lower folding plate 110 is located rearwardly of the front of plate 109 and preferably slightly forward of plate edge portion 112. The right side of plate 110, as viewed in FIGS. 7-9, extends laterally outward beyond main plate 100 and is fixed to a second angle iron 451, which is supported entirely similarly to the first angle iron 451.

The front portion 113 of the left edge of lower folding plate 110, as taken in FIGS. 7-9, meets the right edge thereof at the extreme front of plate 110 and diverges rearwardly therefrom. The rear portion 114 of the left edge of plate 110 is parallel to and preferably located in Vertical alinement with the left edge of main plate 100 (see FIG. 9).

Plates 109 and 110 extend rearwardly to approximately the same point as plate 100.

In operation, when towel T first enters folder B, it has a central portion resting upon main plate 100 and respective side portions extending below the side edges of plate 100. One of these side portions of towel T strikes the portion of upper folder plate edge portion 111 protruding laterally beyond plate 100 and rides along said edge portion 111 so that it is forced between plate 100 and plate 109. The second and third positions of the towel portions in FIG. 5, as well as FIGS. 7 and 8, clearly show this step. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the leading edge 113 of the lower folding plate 110 makes the second longitudinal fold of the towel under the upper folding plate 109.

The width of plate 100 relative to standard towel width is optionally chosen so that towel T is folded approximately into thirds. However, in view of the further fold- 9 ing of towel T, to be described in detail below, it does not matter if the center portion of towel T is wider than the two side portions folded under said center portion. In fact, the center portion of towel T is usually wider than said folded side portions.

Change-of-Direction Roller Change-of-direction roller 11 is clearly shown in FIG. 1. Roller 11 is fixedly supported by a lateral shaft 120 turnably mounted upon frame 1. Pulley 462, which is fixed to shaft 461, and pulley 463, which is fixed to shaft 120, are coupled by pulley belt 464 so as to drive roller 11. Preferably, the linear circumferential speed of roller 11 exceeds the linear speed of belt 10.

A curved transversely and laterally extending plate 121 is supported by frame 1 behind roller 11 and in front of rollers 22 and 23. The front face of the plate 121 is concave in vertical longitudinal section and is sufficiently spaced from the periphery of roller 11 to accommodate the partly folded towel T.

As the leading end of towel T leaves folder B at the rear end thereof, it falls upon the periphery of roller 11. The trailing portion of towel T continues to be pushed rearwardly between belt 10 and plate 100, so that towel T drops between roller 11 and plate 121. The movement of towel T between roller 11 and plate 121 is also aided by gravity, by the driven turning of roller 11, and by the frictional engagement of towel T between roller 11 and plate 121. Towel T is carried forwardly upon belt 10 after leaving roller 11.

Ironer Ironer 12 is clearly shown in FIG. 1.

Ironer 12 is supported by plate 122 which extends laterally and longitudinally beyond it and which is supported by frame 1 is a suitable manner (not shown). Belt 10 is normally supported by rollers 23 and 24 so as to abut the lower face of plate 122 frictionally. The rear end portion 123 of plate 122 is curved upwardly away from belt 10.

A front casing 124 containing heater elements and a rear casing 125 containing a thermostat are mounted on top of plate 122. As will be explained in detail below, the thermostat and the heater elements are adapted to be connected in a suitable electric circuit in order to heat plate 122 to a selected temperature. Towel T passes under plate portion 123 and then moves frictionally between plate 122 and belt 10, so that the heated plate creases the longitudinal folds in towel T. This is often necessary to prevent unfolding of towel T when the folded side portions are very narrow.

A generally upstanding bracket 126 is mounted on top of casing 124 at the front thereof. Ironer solenoid IS is mounted upon the front face of bracket 126 and is spaced above belt 10. Solenoid IS has a transverse plunger 127 extending therethrough and coupled at its upper end, above solenoid IS, to bracket 126 by means of compression spring 128. The lower tip of plunger 127, below solenoid IS, carries cross-rod 13. Said cross-rod 13 is normally urged towards belt 10 by spring 128.

However, when belt 10 ismoving, solenoid IS is energized by means to be described in detail below, and holds rod 13 spaced above belt 10.

When belt 10 stops for any reason, solenoid IS is deenergized, and plunger 127 is forced downwardly by the action of spring 128. As a result, rod 13 engages belt 10 and moves it to its brokenline position of FIG. 1, in which it is spaced from plate 122. This prevents the residual heat of plate 122 from burning belt 10.

plate 130. Plate 130 is supported by frame 1 and bears frictionally against the lower face of belt 10 forwardly of roller 24. Bracket131 is attached to plate beyond Said casing carries an inwardly extending, turnable shaft 132 to which one end of actuating lever 14 is fixed. Lever 14 is made of spring wire and extends downwardly and forwardly from shaft 132. Lever 14 has a curved freeend portion 133.

Lever end portion 133 normally rests lightly upon belt 10, in which position switch X is open. While the length of towel T is passing between belt 10 and lever end portion 133, thereby raising the end portion, switch X remains closed with corresponding actuation of timer mechanism C to be explained in detail below.

In order to ensure positive movement of switch lever 14 from its closing position to its open position, obstruction member 134 is connected to plate 130 at the same side of belt 10 as bracket 131. Obstruction member 134 extends upwardly past the side edge of belt 10 and protrudes inwardly thereof and has a longitudinal slot 465. Normally, lever end portion 133 extends through slot 465 against belt 10. Obstruction member 134 has a lower rear lateral knife edge 135 which is forwardly inclined from the outer edge of member 134. The rear face of member 134 is forwardly inclined from edge 135, which frictionally abuts belt 10. A side portion of the front edge of the moving towel T strikes edge 135 and it rides over obstruction 134. As a result, the side portion of towel T passes under switch lever 14 and raises its end portion 133 out of slot 465, thereby causing a greater movement of lever 14 than the flattened partly folded towel T could cause. Switch X is closed when lever 14 is thus raised.

Transverse Folder Transverse folder D is shown in detail in FIGS. '10 and 11.

Folder D includes a lateral shaft turnably mounted upon frame 1 above roller 15. Lever arms 16 are respectively fixedly mounted upon shaft 140 and extend forwardly therefrom. Arms 16 are respectively in approximate longitudinal alinement with the side edges of belt 10 as it passes over roller 15.

Folder blade 141 is connected to the lower ends of arms 16 and extends between the two arms 16 and also rearwardly thereof. A further lever 142 is fixed to shaft 140 intermediate arms 16 and extends upwardly from shaft 140. Lever 142 is located forward of frame portion 8 and is connected thereto by spring 143. Tension spring 143 urges lever 142 in a clockwise direction about the axis of shaft 140, as viewed in FIG. 11, and thereby normally maintains blade 141 in its front, inactive position.

Blocks 144 are fixed to frame 1 outwardly from the respective arms 16. Each block 144 carries on its rear face aspring blade 145 which extends below block 144. Blade 141 has lateral projections with respective upstanding flanges 146 which bear rubber stops 147 on the respective front faces thereof. These stops 147 are respectively adapted to strike the respective rear faces of the lower end portions of 'blades 145, whereby the forward movement of blade 141, under the urging of spring 143, is checked.

Folder solenoid FS is mounted upon frame 1 forwardly of lever 142. Solenoid plunger 148 extends rearward out of the casing of solenoid FS and carries on its rear end a yoke 149. The upper end of the lever 142 extends between the arms of yoke 149 and is attached thereto by lateral pivot 150.

The action of solenoid FS is controlled by timer mechanism C, in a manner to be described in detail below. When solenoid FS is energized, plunger 148 is drawn forwardly, against the action of spring 143, and blade 141 is moved rearwardly to its broken-line position of FIG. 11, in which it is substantially horizontal and its rear edge approaches the opening between rollers 15 and 28.

Folder limit switch FL is mounted upon frame 1 below plunger 148 and in front of lever 142. Laterally extending folder limit switch lever 151 is attached to the rear of the casing of switch FL by transverse pivot 152. When lever 142 is drawn rearwardly by plunger 148, lever 142 strikes lever 151 and opens the normally closed switch FL. As will be fully explained below, this results in the immediate interruption of the circuit of solenoid FS, so that spring 143 returns blade 141 to its normal position. The movement of folder blade 141 between its two positions is extremely rapid.

Longitudinally extending, metal plate 153 is centrally supported by frame portion 469 rearwardly of rollers 15 and 28, Plate 153 extends rearwardly just below and past roller 35 and also past sprocket 49. Belt frictionally engages the upper face of plate 153. Plate 153 has a downwardly inclined front extension 154 which is positioned proximate to the opening between rollers and 28. Plate 153 is downwardly bowed in longitudinal section and is so formed that its ends are upwardly springable. As a result, plate 153 exerts uniform tension on belt 10 along its length.

Blade 141 is timed to move rearwardly to strike the central lateral line of towel T after it has passed switch X. Blade 141 folds towel T on that line, and the two resulting towel portions on either side of the fold line are pushed by blade 141 between belt 10 and roller 28. Spring 31 urges roller 28 upwardly to catch towel T frictionally between roller 28 and the portion of belt 10 carried under roller 15. As a result, belt 10 carries the folded towel rearwardly over plate extension 154 and hence between belt 10 and plate 153. Towel T is carried rearwardly between belt 10 and plate 153 toward stacking mechanism E.

The lower face of blade 141 is substantially horizontal at the instant towel T is folded. The upper face 466 of blade 141 is then upwardly forwardly inclined. As a result, towel T is frictionally engaged between blade face 466 and belt 10 before it is frictionally engaged between belt 10 and roller 28. This makes it possible to limit rearward movement of blade 141 (by means of the usual limit stop within solenoid F8 for rod 148) slightly forwardly of the point to which blade 141 would otherwise have to move, thereby minimizing the danger of blade 141 becoming jammed between the rollers. Also, the thick wedge-shape of blade 141 helps to prevent disturbance of the fold caused by movement of the upper folded portion relative to the lower folded portion resulting from contact of the upper folded portion with belt 10. Roller 28 is preferably covered with rubber for greater frictional engagement with the lower folded portion of towel T to aid in even movement thereof.

Stacking Mechanism Stacking mechanism E is shown in detail in FIGS l2 15. It will be noted that FIG. 12 shows the opposite side of the machine from the side shown in FIG. 1

Stacking mechanism E includes a conveyor belt system which frictionally engages the upper surface of a towel T and draws it onto a pair of stacker members or rails having smooth operating faces, here shown as angle irons 178, until the towel T lies above the desired stack location. Then the stacker members are moved from their normal support position to a retracted position in which the towel T is free to drop.

The stacker conveyor system includes the previously mentioned lateral shaft 50 whose sprocket 49 is driven by chain 48 (FIG. 1). It was previously stated that shaft 50 is supported by frame'l. The manner in which shaft 50 is supported will now be explained more fully.

Intermediate the ends of shaft 50, one or more levers 160 are fixed thereto. This lever 160 extends upwardly and forwardly from shaft 50 and is connected at its upper end by lateral pivot 161 to block 162. Block 162 abuts the lower face of a cross-arm 163 of frame 1 and has an upstanding flange 164 located in front of arm 163. Adjusting screw 165 extends through flange 164 and into arm 163 and helps to hold block 162 to arm 163. The setting of screw 165 may be varied to adjust the longitudinal position of shaft 50.

Intermediate its ends, lever 160 is connected by adjusting screw 166 and block 167 to the lower face of arm 163, to permit vertical adjustment of shaft 50.

A pair of laterally spaced pulleys 168 are fixed to shaft 50.

A further lateral shaft 169 is located rearwardly of shaft 58 and carries two further pulleys 168 in respective longitudinal alinement with the front pulleys 168. One or more further levers 160 are fixed to shaft 169 and extend upwardly and rearwardly therefrom and are optionally adjustably attached to frame 1 similarly to the first-mentioned lever 160.

A pair of pulley V-belts 170 extend around the respective longitudinal pairs of pulleys 168 and serve as conveyor belts for towel T. Plate 153 extends rearwardly under and past the front pulleys 168, so that the leading edge of towel T moving between plate 153 and main conveyor belt 10 and passing out of engagement with belt 10 passes into the space between belts 170 and plate 153 before the trailing edge of towel T passes belt 18 (see FIGS. 1 and 14).

The angle irons 178 of stacking mechanism E are supported by means of two sets of columns 171 which depend from frame 1 laterally outwardly of pulley belts 178 and which extend below said belts 17f). Said columns 171 are also located longitudinally between the front and rear pulleys 168, and the columns of each set are longitudinally alined.

The bottom portions of the columns 171 of each set are formed to provide suitable bearings through which a longitudinal shaft 172 extends turnably. A pair of end arms 173 and a pair of intermediate arms 174 are mounted upon shaft 172.

At their other ends, the arms 173 and 174 associated with each shaft 172 are fixed to the outer face, as viewed in FIG. 13, of the transversely and longitudinally extending arm 176 of one of the angle irons 178 of stacking mechanism E. In the normal position of FIGS. 12-14, the other arm 177 of angle iron 178 is integral with the upper edge of arm 176 and extends horizontally inwardly thereof.

In order to regulate the turned positions of angle irons 178, the angle iron arms 176 are coupled to the plunger 179 of an air cylinder 180. Said air cylinder 180 is fixed to frame 1 laterally outwardly from one of the angle irons 178 and at the front part of stacking mechanism E. Plunger 179 extends out of the rear end of cylinder 180. Links 181 are secured to the rear end of plunger 179 by lateral pivot 181a. One end of arm 182 is positioned between the links 181 and connected thereto by lateral pivot 183. Arm 182 extends upwardly from links 181.

Lateral shaft 184 is turnably mounted upon frame 1 and extends above and laterally outwardly from angle irons 178. The upper end of arm 182 is divided to provide fork arms 185 between which an outer end of shaft 184 is located. Arms 185 are held together above shaft 184 by means 186 in order to fix arm 182 to shaft 184.

Brackets 187 are respectively fixed to the outer faces of the respective angle iron arms 176 between the arms 174 respectively associated therewith. Links 222 are connected to respective faces of brackets 187 by longitudinal pivots 223. The lower end of coupling link 188 is connected between respective links 222 by means of longitudinal pivot 189. The upper end of link 188 is connected between the lower ends of a pair of link plates 190 by means of lateral pivot 191. Lever arm 192 is connected at one end thereof between the upper ends of the link plates 190 by means of pivot 193. The other end of lever arm 192 is fixed to shaft 184.

Plunger 179 is shown in its normal position in FIG. 12. 

2. A STACKING DEVICE FOR ARTICLES OF LINEN AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A FRAME, A PAIR OF RAILS HAVING OPERATING FACES, MEANS MOUNTING SAID RAILS LATERALLY SPACED ON THE FRAME FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT RESPECTIVE LONGITUDINAL PIVOTS BY SAID MEANS FROM A NORMAL POSITION WITH THEIR OPERATING FACES SUBSTANTIALLY LOCATED IN A COMMON HORIZONTAL PLANE AND INWARD FROM SAID PIVOTS TO A DOWNTURNED POSITION IN WHICH ARTICLES OF LINEN ARE FREE TO DROP BETWEEN THE RAILS, UPPER AND LOWER LIMIT SWITCHES MOUNTED ON THE FRAME, THE UPPER SWITCH BEING ADAPTED TO BE HELD CLOSED BY THE SAID MOUNTING MEANS ONLY WHEN THE RAILS ARE IN THEIR NORMAL POSITION, THE LOWER LIMIT SWITCH BEING ADAPTED TO BE ACTUATED TO A RETURN CONDITION WHEN THE RAILS ARE IN THEIR DOWNTURNED POSITION, AND ACTUATING MEANS FOR PIVOTING SAID RAILS INCLUDING AN ACTUATING SWITCH ADAPTED TO BE OPERATED BY AN ARTICLE OF LINEN MOVING ON THE RAILS AND THEREBY CAUSE THE RAILS TO TURN FROM THEIR NORMAL POSITION, SAID ACTUATING MEANS ALSO BEING ADAPTED TO RETURN THE RAILS TOWARD THEIR NORMAL POSITION AFTER THE LOWER LIMIT SWITCH IS ACTUATED TO ITS RETURN CONDITION IN COMBINATION WITH MEANS INCLUDING THE UPPER LIMIT SWITCH ACTIVE DURING THE RETURN OF THE RAILS TO THE NORMAL POSITION THEREOF FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTAL CLOSING OF THE ACTUATING SWITCH FROM CAUSING MOVEMENT OF THE RAILS DOWNWARD, AND CONVEYOR MEANS ON THE FRAME ABOVE THE OPERATING FACES OF THE RAILS ADAPTED TO FRICTIONALLY ENGAGE THE ARTICLES ALONG THEIR UPPER FACES AND DRAW THEM INTO POSITION ON THE OPERATING FACES OF THE RAILS, THEREBY CAUSING OPERATION OF THE ACTUATING SWITCH. 